Title III of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 provides federal financial support to state and local educational agencies and schools for students with limited English proficiency or English Language Learners (ELL's). The purposes of Title III include:

1. Helping students become proficient in English and assisting them in reaching the same level of academic achievement as students whose first language is English.
2. Developing high level language instruction programs.
3. Promoting parent and community participation in educational programs for paretns and communities with student who are English Language Learners.
4. Holding schools accountable for showing progress toward Englsih proficiency for English Language Leaners.
5. Providing State educational agencies and local educational agencies with the flexibility to implement language instruction educational programs, based on scientifically based research on teaching limited English proficient children, that the agencies believe to be the most effective for teaching English.

In 2010, Side By Side's English Language Learners showed excellent progress toward achieving Englsih proficiency as measured by the LAS Links Benchmarks Assessment. The results were as follows:

• 100% of returning ELL's made progress as measured by the LAS Links in at least one subtest area.
• 71.4% of ELL's made progress as measured by CSDE in acquiring English proficiency.
• 77.8 % of ELL's attained English proficiency.

Sincerely,

Mary Newbery
[email protected]
Title I Coordinator
203-857-0306 ext. 137